December 2024 Rereads

Owl be Home for Christmas by Donna Andrews

Four stars

This book came out October 15th, 2019

Meg Langlow #26

Follows Terns of Endearment
Followed by The Falcon Always Rings Twice

The White Priory Murders by Carter Dickson

I had read one or two books by Dickson before and mostly enjoyed them. This one was a little confusing to follow and the plot was a bit melodramatic but I finished it. Two and a half stars rounded up for Goodreads.

This is essentially a locked room mystery. A group of people have gathered. One dies in a remote outbuilding. It can't be anything but murder but there are no footprints in the fresh snow around the building. The victim is an actress who is trying to raise her falling star. Tempestuous and aging, she is trying to reinvigorate her career by coming across the pond to star in a play. There is more than one attempt on her life. And one is finally successful.

Three stars

This book came out in 1934

Sir Henry Merrivale #2

Follows The Plague Court Murders

Followed by The Red Widow Murders

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

A Christmas Holiday by Janice Bennett, Violet Hamilton, Sara Blayne, Karla Hocker, Anthea Malcolm, Tracy Grant , Elizabeth Thornton, W.M. Cordy

To be fair, I read this book close to when it came out so my rating may be colored by nostalgia. 

Holly Brooch by Janice Bennett

Miss Dorothea Steyning had a chance at happiness. When it fell through, she was left with a debt of honor. This Christmas, she has a chance to repay that debt. As long has her two students don't stand in her way. 

Christmas Bride by Sara Blayne

Kathryn is used to being the head of her rather... dramatic... family. She was married five years ago but he soon left for war. Now that he's back, he's confused as to why she didn't tell the world she's married to a duke. But the more he see of her family, the more he understands. And the more he's enchanted by her.

Glastonbury Thorn by Violet Hamilton

Nicholas Farris is home for the holidays. Before he left for war, he had an understanding with a very beautiful young woman. But now that he's back, he's wondering whether her younger sister might not be a better match.

Yule Log by Karla Hocker

A beautiful young widow sets out to celebrate "Christmas the way it used to be," and finds that a treasured friendship can blossom into a warm and lasting love.

Mistletoe Christmas by Anthea Malcolm

Elizabeth Alder had stubbornly broken her engagement a year ago. But on Christmas Eve, she is given antoher chance at romance...if she's brave enough to take it.

Sheer Sorcery by Elizabeth Thornton.

Jess has been dealing with her guardian for years. She's ready to be free of him. Or so she says. But when her eye is caught by a local shop's "Sheer Sorcery," some truths about their relationship might come out.

The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi

This was an okay book. Definitely branches off of Adachi's first book and her podcast about being a lazy genius. There is an idea of zones which would work fine in theory but that's not always going to be a possibility. That was about my biggest takeaway from the book. Enjoyed the ideas but most were not helpful for my particular situation.

Three stars

This book came out May 3, 2022

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

The Apothecary's Poison by C.J. Archer

While Matt and India are generally trying to stay under the radar of the newspapers, they do still read them. And an article about a doctor, claiming that he brought someone back from the dead. Of course, that's going to be of great interest to Matt so they take a chance an interview him. 

It's too bad that, while the man may be a magician, he doesn't appear to be capable of miracles. It's also too bad that the man ends up dead. Because they were there the day before, Matt becomes a suspect. 

A fine story and the ending actually moves the overarching story along.

Three and a half stars

This book came out April 4, 2017

Glass and Steele #3

Follows The Mapmaker's Apprentice

Followed by The Magician's Diary

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle

So good until the end.

Lyra Dore made the find of an amber prospector's life and was ecstatic until her boyfriend at the time, Cruz Sweetwater, claimed the find for his family company, Amber, Inc. She was understandably upset. 

So now she can't believe that he's on her doorstep wanting help to get some of his men out of a trap that's been sprung, keeping them locked in the jungle. Even after she's done, he just won't seem to leave. His entire family claims that he loves her, but can she trust the man who left her taking not only her find but her heart?

Three and a half stars

This book came out August 25, 2009

Ghost Hunters #6 

Follows Dark Hunter

Followed by Midnight Crystal

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

The Mapmaker's Apprentice by C.J Archer

The commissioner that helped Matt out in the last book needs help now. A mapmaking apprentice has gone missing and the commissioner would like Matt and India to help him out. In order to do so, they pretend to be a married couple. 

While visiting the guilds, they discover that the mapmaker's guild is also trying to suppress the knowledge that magicians exist. That leads to a very desperate situation where the pair barely survive. They also discover that their enemies may be more numerous than they thought.

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 25, 2016

Glass and Steele #2

Follows The Watchmaker's Daughter

Followed by The Apothecary's Poison

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own